A great resource for writing about research: A Field Guide for Science Writers: The Official Guide of the National Association of Science Writers.
Four tasks recommended by the book, which I lived by:
1) Understand the science;
2) Know the background behind the study;
3) Find a skeptical source who will temper your initial excitement about a study;
4) Figure out who is going to benefit from the study.
A great website about process: http://www.theopennotebook.com/about/
